The Home Office has given recognised modern slavery victims on Skilled Worker visas the freedom to escape abusive employers and find work elsewhere. The post UK allows modern slavery victims on Skilled Worker visas to leave abusive employers appeared first on Nehanda Radio .
The UK government has introduced new immigration protections allowing recognised victims of modern slavery on Skilled Worker visas to leave exploitative employers without jeopardising their right to remain in the country.
Under the change, which took effect on Thursday, 3 September, eligible workers will be permitted to take employment elsewhere for the remainder of their existing visa.
The measure is expected to assist migrant care workers, chefs, hospitality employees and others whose immigration status was previously linked to the employer sponsoring them.
Skilled Worker visa holders are ordinarily sponsored for a specific position by a Home Office-approved employer. Changing jobs generally requires a new sponsor and a fresh visa application. UK government Skilled Worker visa guidance
Campaigners have warned that this dependence can leave migrant workers vulnerable to employers who use their immigration status to subject them to withheld wages, excessive working hours, intimidation and other forms of abuse.
Announcing the protection, the Home Office said: “No victim of modern slavery should be trapped with an exploitative employer because of their immigration status.
“From today, recognised victims on Skilled Worker visas can leave abusive employers and work elsewhere without risking their immigration status.”
The change means workers formally recognised as victims will be able to work for any employer until their current visa expires, rather than remaining tied to the sponsor accused of exploiting them.
Migration and Citizenship Minister Jo White said the government wanted to give victims the freedom to leave abusive workplaces and rebuild their lives.
“While we support them, we are also cracking down on those responsible. Rogue sponsors who exploit workers will face the full force of the law,” she said.
Employers suspected of criminal conduct will be referred to the police, according to the government.
More than 6,600 employers have reportedly lost their sponsor licences since Labour came to power. More than 4,400 of those revocations occurred in the year ending June 2026—an increase of 140% compared with the preceding year.
The government has also said it intends to simplify the wider process through which sponsored migrant workers change employers as part of reforms outlined in its immigration white paper.
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